Exhibition games likely to decide who wins the job

The Green Bay Packers cannot afford to repeat last years punting debacle, when their decision to scuttle incumbent Jon Ryan at the end of training camp blew up on them.

Derrick Frost, Ryans replacement, looked like a pro in practice but bombed out far too often on game day while finishing No. 25 in the NFL in gross punting average and No. 23 in net punting average in 12 games.

This year, General Manager Ted Thompson has put his money on Jeremy Kapinos and Durant Brooks to return the punting to competence, and hes seen enough from them this offseason to cut the third punter on the roster, Adam Graessle, this week. But after last season, it will be hard for Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy not to put even more emphasis on how Kapinos and Brooks perform in exhibition games rather than on practice.

I think for Durant and I, were not veterans but (the Packers) know what we can do, Kapinos said after Wednesdays organized-team activities practice. Obviously they want to see our progression in minicamp and training camp, but there are guys that are good in practice situations and dont perform (well in games). We get paid to perform, so what will weigh heavily is those (exhibition) games.

Thompson chose to go with Kapinos and Brooks after getting a decent look at both late last season, when Kapinos punted the Packers last four games after they finally waived Frost, and Brooks signed onto their practice squad for the final three weeks. Thompson didnt sign a free-agent punter of note, select one in the draft, or even sign an undrafted rookie.

So the job will come down to two players who are close in age and NFL inexperience. Both are 24; Kapinos has hit 22 punts in five NFL games, Brooks 26 punts in six games.

Brooks, coincidentally, is the punter who pushed Frost out of his job with Washington last year. Coming out of Georgia Tech for the 2008 draft, Brooks had won the Ray Guy award honoring college footballs top punter and averaged 45.3 yards gross in his two seasons there. Washington selected him in the sixth round, which gave Brooks the inside leg on the job, and he won out.

However, Brooks didnt perform well enough to hold the job for even half the season. In six games, he had a net average of 32.1 yards, which wouldnt have cracked the top 32 in the league last season if hed had enough punts to qualify for the league leaders. He also gave up touchdown returns to New Orleans Reggie Bush and Philadelphias DeSean Jackson.

I was very inconsistent, Brooks said. A good ball, then a bad ball.

Brooks said his problems started even before a hip-flexor injury from college flared up his final two games with Washington, but that the time off after the Redskins cut him but before he signed with the Packers got him healthy and fresh.

I was trying to out-kick (Frost) every time (last year), Brooks said. Ive learned to limit my reps. Quality is better than quantity.

Besides having a fresher leg, Brooks thinks hes more consistent this year because hes emphasized shortening his approach strides he had a tendency to overstride last year in his efforts to improve get-off time. Hes feeling better than he has in 1 years and considers himself the front-runner to win the job.

You cant feel like youre the underdog, cant feel youre in second place, Brooks said. You have to have confidence to go out there and feel like this is your job. Yeah, I feel like Im the front-runner and feel like Im doing good. Im sure Jeremy says the same thing (about himself).

Kapinos returns to the Packers as the incumbent, but in name only. In his four games last season, he had a gross average of 39.2 yards and a net average of 34.5 yards, which on the surface are poor numbers. But he hit seven of 17 punts inside the 20, had only one touchback, and played three of his four games in winter weather.

He prepared for offseason practices by returning to his home in Virginia to work with his unofficial punting coach, former Packers punter and high school coach Bill Renner. The two refined his techniques by videotaping footwork and drop drills.

Very knowledgeable about the position, new special teams coach Shawn Slocum said of Kapinos. Hes very good mechanically. His mentality, when he came in here under the conditions, that part of the year in terms of weather, he managed those games fairly well. I think he might have been a little bit fatigued and maybe not game ready when he got here, that had an effect on his 39-yard gross average. I think hes learned how valuable rest and recovery is. You have to work hard, but theres a fine line you have to walk in terms of getting enough work yet not be fatigued.

After the Packers final minicamp later in June, Kapinos will work with Renner again plus workout with a personal trainer who specializes in explosive movements. He feels like hes in midseason form Ball flight doesnt lie, he said and said he expects to punt in the NFL this year. Last year, the Jets signed him to compete with incumbent Ben Graham but cut him on June 10, well before training camp.

Ive been in an open competition in New York, and there was nothing open about that, Kapinos said. Whatever open competition I think we both have to show what we can do.